The largest issue facing the EU is whether the EU was and is in itself and its polity democratic enough. Since its creation in 1993, majority of its members were able to trust the stability of the ECSC (arguably the EU’s predecessor) up till the 1990’s where its legitimacy and ‘ideals’ were being questioned. The EU reformed its Nice Treaty of 2001 in 2005 when Angela Merkel introduced the Lisbon Treaty, what the EU is well known for. This reform was implemented in an attempt for us the European Union to become, and naturally be seen as a democratic oriented community. We have had problems with the UK and Ireland, even to this day. The 11 newly entered member states in 2001, thanks to the Nice Treaty, were naturally a positive event but at the same time clarified that the Nice Treaty was unable to cope with the newly accepted members, causing a problem. Between 2004-2007 there had been an enlargement in the EU, almost doubling the size of the EU, many politicians targeted the Nice treaty and asked for the Nice Treaty to be reformed and re-looked upon, the Laaken Decleration, a council calling, that proposed to accomplish this reform and work upon it. This was nothing new as it happened in a smaller scale back in the 70’s where “Eurosclerosis”, a problem of integration of its newer members and further members was stalled and due to the EU’s predecessor the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Committee) who had a more conservative point of view and had issues in incorporating more and more members in one committee left it un-polished and so we are facing this issue today. The need for public interest within the EU has been haunting the EU since the 90’s, in 2009 the EP had released newer public policies in hope of gaining higher ‘interest’ from the European peoples. The EU recently with the Maastricht treaty, the existence of the European People's Party (EPP) and newer policies has shown that it is willing to and become more of a democracy that it promised to once be.
As the representatives of Hungary, an EU member state, we ask this question why should the EU act? A long term problem, in need of a long term solution. We as Hungary presume that once a state enters it already should be stable already, and be able to function democratically and have a stable economy. The need for reform within the EU ‘boundaries’ and requirements of membership is urgent, as most EU member states currently are facing economic stagnation and are being pulled up by major European economies such as Germany and France. Democracy crisis in one member state is automatically a crisis within the whole of the European Union, so we the representatives of Hungary propose a change in the legislation of the member states democratic requirements. Hungary currently is facing political crisis as the government is being branched as a more right winged/ police state like government. Although some situation and some politicians’ agendas hint to this we the EU representatives of Hungary. There has been a degree of pressuring in parts of the European Commission on how to determine when a member state is challenging the fundamental and core values that are expressed both in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and of the EU treaty. Yet the European Union is a veteran in assessing and somewhat enforcing democratic standards. Even if one considered Hungary to be primarily a rule of law problem, there is a risk of fighting the last battle. The next crisis could be triggered by flawed elections in some member states, clearly a democracy problem. Therefore a lasting solution should be constructed and worked upon from the beginning on the basis of all fundamental values enshrined in Article 2 and in general the European Union.
Article 2 The Union shall set itself the following objectives:
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to promote economic and social progress and a high level of employment and to achieve balanced and sustainable development, in particular through the creation of an area without internal frontiers, through the strengthening of economic and social cohesion and through the establishment of economic and monetary union, ultimately including a single currency in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty,
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to assert its identity on the international scene, in particular through the implementation of a common foreign and security policy including the progressive framing of a common defence policy, which might lead to a common defence, in accordance with the provisions of Article 17,
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to strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of the nationals of its Member States through the introduction of a citizenship of the Union,
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to maintain and develop the Union as an area of freedom, security and justice, in which the free movement of persons is assured in conjunction with appropriate measures with respect to external border controls, asylum, immigration and the prevention and combating of crime,
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to maintain in full the acquis communautaire and build on it with a view to considering to what extent the policies and forms of cooperation introduced by this Treaty may need to be revised with the aim of ensuring the effectiveness of the mechanisms and the institutions of the Community.
The objectives of the Union shall be achieved as provided in this Treaty and in accordance with the conditions and the timetable set out therein while respecting the principle of subsidiarity as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
Amir Hajek and Alejandro Crowther
TOPIC B: Revising the European Neighborhood Policy .
Europe has been known to be a boiling pot of nations, as its bloody history has shown. This was furthermore discussed after WWII and the defeat of the Nazi Regime, the need for a secure Europe and secure borders was a necessity. The Soviet Union’s Socialist borders and influence was one which scared the Allied held nations and Western European countries. The neglect in which the Soviet Union treated not only Hungary but other Eastern Bloc nations has lead to the realisation after the Soviet Union's fall that being part of the EU is beneficial both economically and socially; as it provides security and further economic partnerships.
The current situation involving the European Neighborhood Policy is that of, should the EU get involved to an extent where a nation (most likely a country that is considered a member of the 16 ENP nations) will be almost forced into being part of the EU. This is seen currently in Ukraine, where protests have been occurring/taking place throughout the Ukraine with majority of its people wanting a reform in its so called ‘corrupt’ government and also the integration of the Ukraine into the European Union. The ENP was set initially in securing the European Unions boundaries and the boundaries of every individual member state within. It was also a matter of promoting the EU membership to the European neighbours who are not members. It is also there to reassure a positive relation amongst European nations and its good-willed neighbours. The ENP is a form of assessing a nations worthiness and characteristics of it becoming a member of the EU. The situation in Ukraine is dire. The need for action is currently needed as the government is suspiciously not giving in towards the peoples needs whilst the EU’s arms are wide open to receive and/or in the long term integrate the Ukraine into the European Union.
As delegates of Hungary, considered a Eastern European Nation and a ex-Soviet bloc nation, we have had the benefits of joining the EU and fully integrating within the European community. It has boosted economic growth within Hungary and has given till recently (until the change in Political agendas) social stability and a modern Hungary. With the current situation with Ukraine, our neighbours, we have come to a conclusion that we are willing and wanting for the Ukraine to be closer in relation and even a member of the EU as the Ukraine is under threat from Putin’s malicious and suspicious agenda and democratically is facing a politically unstable regime. Why should the Ukraine join? The Ukraine is facing a politically instable government which is unable to decide for the well being of its own people. Instead incorporating corrupt politicians and suspiciously dangerous agendas. the Ukraine is a stepping stone in the drug and human smuggling route within Europe and by incorporating we are able stabilize the war on drugs within the EU.
TOPIC A: Democratization of the EU
The largest issue facing the EU is whether the EU was and is in itself and its polity democratic enough. Since its creation in 1993, majority of its members were able to trust the stability of the ECSC (arguably the EU’s predecessor) up till the 1990’s where its legitimacy and ‘ideals’ were being questioned. The EU reformed its Nice Treaty of 2001 in 2005 when Angela Merkel introduced the Lisbon Treaty, what the EU is well known for. This reform was implemented in an attempt for us the European Union to become, and naturally be seen as a democratic oriented community. We have had problems with the UK and Ireland, even to this day. The 11 newly entered member states in 2001, thanks to the Nice Treaty, were naturally a positive event but at the same time clarified that the Nice Treaty was unable to cope with the newly accepted members, causing a problem. Between 2004-2007 there had been an enlargement in the EU, almost doubling the size of the EU, many politicians targeted the Nice treaty and asked for the Nice Treaty to be reformed and re-looked upon, the Laaken Decleration, a council calling, that proposed to accomplish this reform and work upon it. This was nothing new as it happened in a smaller scale back in the 70’s where “Eurosclerosis”, a problem of integration of its newer members and further members was stalled and due to the EU’s predecessor the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Committee) who had a more conservative point of view and had issues in incorporating more and more members in one committee left it un-polished and so we are facing this issue today. The need for public interest within the EU has been haunting the EU since the 90’s, in 2009 the EP had released newer public policies in hope of gaining higher ‘interest’ from the European peoples. The EU recently with the Maastricht treaty, the existence of the European People's Party (EPP) and newer policies has shown that it is willing to and become more of a democracy that it promised to once be.
As the representatives of Hungary, an EU member state, we ask this question why should the EU act? A long term problem, in need of a long term solution. We as Hungary presume that once a state enters it already should be stable already, and be able to function democratically and have a stable economy. The need for reform within the EU ‘boundaries’ and requirements of membership is urgent, as most EU member states currently are facing economic stagnation and are being pulled up by major European economies such as Germany and France. Democracy crisis in one member state is automatically a crisis within the whole of the European Union, so we the representatives of Hungary propose a change in the legislation of the member states democratic requirements. Hungary currently is facing political crisis as the government is being branched as a more right winged/ police state like government. Although some situation and some politicians’ agendas hint to this we the EU representatives of Hungary. There has been a degree of pressuring in parts of the European Commission on how to determine when a member state is challenging the fundamental and core values that are expressed both in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and of the EU treaty. Yet the European Union is a veteran in assessing and somewhat enforcing democratic standards. Even if one considered Hungary to be primarily a rule of law problem, there is a risk of fighting the last battle. The next crisis could be triggered by flawed elections in some member states, clearly a democracy problem. Therefore a lasting solution should be constructed and worked upon from the beginning on the basis of all fundamental values enshrined in Article 2 and in general the European Union.
Article 2
The Union shall set itself the following objectives:
Amir Hajek and Alejandro Crowther
TOPIC B: Revising the European Neighborhood Policy .
Europe has been known to be a boiling pot of nations, as its bloody history has shown. This was furthermore discussed after WWII and the defeat of the Nazi Regime, the need for a secure Europe and secure borders was a necessity. The Soviet Union’s Socialist borders and influence was one which scared the Allied held nations and Western European countries. The neglect in which the Soviet Union treated not only Hungary but other Eastern Bloc nations has lead to the realisation after the Soviet Union's fall that being part of the EU is beneficial both economically and socially; as it provides security and further economic partnerships.
The current situation involving the European Neighborhood Policy is that of, should the EU get involved to an extent where a nation (most likely a country that is considered a member of the 16 ENP nations) will be almost forced into being part of the EU. This is seen currently in Ukraine, where protests have been occurring/taking place throughout the Ukraine with majority of its people wanting a reform in its so called ‘corrupt’ government and also the integration of the Ukraine into the European Union. The ENP was set initially in securing the European Unions boundaries and the boundaries of every individual member state within. It was also a matter of promoting the EU membership to the European neighbours who are not members. It is also there to reassure a positive relation amongst European nations and its good-willed neighbours. The ENP is a form of assessing a nations worthiness and characteristics of it becoming a member of the EU. The situation in Ukraine is dire. The need for action is currently needed as the government is suspiciously not giving in towards the peoples needs whilst the EU’s arms are wide open to receive and/or in the long term integrate the Ukraine into the European Union.
As delegates of Hungary, considered a Eastern European Nation and a ex-Soviet bloc nation, we have had the benefits of joining the EU and fully integrating within the European community. It has boosted economic growth within Hungary and has given till recently (until the change in Political agendas) social stability and a modern Hungary. With the current situation with Ukraine, our neighbours, we have come to a conclusion that we are willing and wanting for the Ukraine to be closer in relation and even a member of the EU as the Ukraine is under threat from Putin’s malicious and suspicious agenda and democratically is facing a politically unstable regime. Why should the Ukraine join? The Ukraine is facing a politically instable government which is unable to decide for the well being of its own people. Instead incorporating corrupt politicians and suspiciously dangerous agendas. the Ukraine is a stepping stone in the drug and human smuggling route within Europe and by incorporating we are able stabilize the war on drugs within the EU.